Need to Counter Moves to Disrespect Security, Sanctities

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called for collective action to counter moves that disrespect people’s security and sanctities following a terrorist attack at a shrine in Shiraz, Fars Province, on Wednesday.  
“Everyone has a responsibility in confronting the enemies and their treacherous and ignorant agents,” he said in a message, Leader.ir reported.
He urged security organizations, the judiciary, thinkers and propagation activists, as well as the entire nation, to act in union in countering such moves against the lives, security and sanctities of the people. 
“The dear nation and responsible organizations will certainly overcome the wicked plot of enemies,” the Leader said. 
The holy shrine of Shah Cheragh in Shiraz came under a terrorist assault on Wednesday, which took the lives of 15 people, including women and children, and wounded many others. 
Ayatollah Khamenei expressed condolences to the family of victims, the people of Shiraz and the whole Iranian nation. 
“Perpetrator or perpetrators of this crime will surely be punished,” he said. 
However, the grief of these dears and desecration of the shrine will not be compensated, according to the Leader, unless through tracking the origins of these disastrous acts and adopting decisive and wise measures about them. 
President Ebrahim Raisi also offered his condolences, describing the incident as another crime on the list of crimes by the enemies of the Islamic Revolution. 
He said the enemies of Iran take revenge for the country’s progress and their desperation and failure in dividing the people with violence and assassination. 
“This malice will certainly not go unanswered and the security and law enforcement organizations will identify the roots of this blind crime and give a response that would teach its perpetrators a lesson and make them regret,” he said. 
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the crime brought to light “the sinister intentions of the promoters of terror and violence in Iran.”
In a post on his Instagram page, he said there is solid information indicating that the enemies have devised a multi-layered project to make Iran insecure. 
“We will certainly not let Iran’s national security and interests be toyed with by terrorists and foreign meddlers who claim to defend human rights,” he wrote. 
In separate remarks, Iran’s military chief said national security, tranquility, as well as the people’s lives and property are a red line for the country’s Armed Forces, vowing revenge against the masterminds and perpetrators of the bloody terrorist attack. 
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri said the country’s security and intelligence forces would soon punish the “domestic and foreign designers and perpetrators” of the brutal crime for their shameful actions.
Demonstrations were also held following the Friday prayers in Tehran and other cities, where the Iranian nation condemned the criminal attack. 

Indiscriminate Fire 

The attack at Shah Cheragh, a highly revered Shia shrine in Shiraz, took place at around 5:45 pm local time, just before the evening prayers.
Fifteen pilgrims lost their lives and at least 40 others were wounded. The police commander of Fars Province said the attacker opened indiscriminate fire at pilgrims inside the shrine and was himself wounded and arrested by security officials.
Nour News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s top security body, said the militant who carried out the attack was a foreign national but did not give his nationality.
CCTV footage released by local authorities showed the terrorist making his way inside the shrine after hiding an assault rifle in a bag and opening fire at worshipers who tried to flee and hide in corridors.
Hours later, the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group, known as Daesh, claimed responsibility for the attack.
Three days of public mourning have been announced in Fars Province and a funeral for the martyrs is set to be held on Saturday in Shiraz.